Abstract: This data collection describes the organization of agriculture and the operation of the Southern economy following the Civil War, with emphasis on the relationship between race and tenure status of farm operators. Economic and agricultural data were compiled from the 1880 Census of Agriculture. Information provided includes the location of the farm (region, state, county, and enumeration district), tenure of the farm operator, number of acres in tillage, meadows, woodland, and other uses, type of crops being farmed and production figures, and the number of various livestock (horses, mules, oxen, cows, sheep, and swine). Additionally, data are presented on the value of the farm, farm implements, livestock, and farm products, and costs associated with fences, fertilizer, and wages. Demographic information drawn from the 1880 Census of Population includes the race, literacy, age, and birthplace of the farm operator, number of people living in the house, and number of people working on the farm.

SOURCE: United States Bureau of the Census 1880 Population and Agriculture Manuscript schedules

UNIVERSE: All farms reported by the 1880 Agriculture Census in the 11 Confederate states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The western area of Texas and southern area of Florida were excluded due to lack of settlement in 1880.

SAMPLE: The South was divided into economic regions that were relatively homogeneous, and one or more representative counties were selected from each region. This group of farms was then sampled at a minimum rate of 10 percent, blocks of five farms each being selected with a skip interval of 45 farms.

EXTENT OF COLLECTION: 1 data file.

DATA TYPE: census/enumeration data

DATA FORMAT: Card Image

TIME PERIOD: 1879-1880

DATE OF COLLECTION: 1969

FUNDING AGENCY: (1) National Science Foundation, (2) University of California, Berkeley. Institute of Business and Economic Research, and (3) University of California, Berkeley. Center for Research in Management Science.

GRANT NUMBER: NSF 2668

RELATED PUBLICATIONS:

Ransom, Roger, and Richard Sutch. ONE KIND OF FREEDOM: THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF EMANCIPATION. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1977. Moen, Jon R. ''Changes in the Productivity in Southern Agriculture between 1860 and 1880.'' In Robert W. Fogel and Stanley L. Engerman (eds.), WITHOUT CONSENT OR CONTRACT: THE RISE AND FALL OF AMERICAN SLAVERY -TECHNICAL PAPERS: MARKETS AND PRODUCTION (Vol. I). New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 1990.